Study says overweight students are ostracized by peers at early age

News release from the American Society for Nutrition: A research study of first-grade students has found that children with weight problems are experiencing a negative social environment very early in their educational experience. The researchers recommend that obesity prevention programs in schools should start very early and should involve peers, not just the overweight children themselves. The study, conducted by researchers at Oklahoma State University and the University of Arkansas studied 1,139 first-graders in 29 rural schools to explore whether obese and overweight children are more disliked than their classmates. According to reports from both children and teachers, overweight and obese children were significantly more disliked than healthy-weight children.